It has been a while since we have heard from him, but some of you might remember our Joy of Kosher Rabbi, Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff. He has answered quite a few of our burning food and holiday Jewish questions and you can see them all in our Ask The Rabbi blog. Rabbi Lawrence loves to answer question and has had plenty of practice over the past 13 years working as a Rabbi and as the director of the Jewish Enrichment Center in NYC. In his first book, Rabbi Lawrence puts it all out there for us and he goes well beyond food, Jew Got Questions?
Jamie and Rabbi Lawrence go way back and in fact, his wife Anita is the source for one of the recipes in the Joy of Kosher Cookbook. In honor of the Rabbi’s new book, we are sharing Anita’s Lachmagine recipe as written in the cookbook. I have heard Anita’s name mentioned in many conversations with Jamie and I know she has inspired her cooking in many ways. Specifically for this recipe Jamie appreciates the shortcuts Anita allows, like using prune butter and tomato paste instead of temerhindi and prepared pizza rounds instead of making your own.
When we invited the Rabbi into our kitchen, Anita said, “Rabbi in the kitchen – Not!!” The Rabbi admits to not being much of a cook, the joke in their house goes “what does daddy make for dinner? Reservations!” It seems to me his wife makes up for his lack of kitchen know how, but she has learned a thing or two in the kitchen from her Persian mother in law. Rabbi Lawrence says, “on an average Shabbat in my home we have a choresh bodem jon (meat and eggplant stew – delicious) and a potato kugel (which I never saw till my 20s) on the table together! Plus plenty of rice, especially on Pesach, when we sephardim do eat rice, and now my wife is permitted to eat as well!”
Since we usually share recipes in our kitchen, Anita has graciously provided a recipe she learned from her mother in law. A recipe with a Persian flavor, made like a turkey stew, the Rabbi prefers this dish reheated the next day, so make extra. Get the full recipe for Robele here.
Even though the Rabbi has answered more than 300 pages worth of questions, I have to ask a few more.
What is your earliest food memory?
I have many food memories from my childhood, the ones that stand out are Holiday related. On Rosh Hashana my mother would make large platters of head meats. We had tongue (which I’m sure is delicious but I still can’t bring myself to eat) and an actual lamb’s head on the table. And rice! So much rice! White rice, green rice (made with dill) yellow rice (made with saffron) and then for dessert…rice pudding!
How did you decide which questions to put in this book?
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I truly get asked many questions. For the most part I am dealing with unaffiliated Jewish men and women in their college years then 20s and 30s, I get asked every type of question. When I wrote the book I decided to pick the topics I get asked about the most. I would say I spend most of my time answering questions on dating, marriage and shalom bayit. People are interested in spirituality and Kabbalah, so I had to include a chapter on that, dealing with red strings, evil eyes, reincarnation and what Kabbalah is really all about.
Leading trips to Israel and Poland a few times a year and working for the Alumni community of Birthright Israel in NY I am posed many questions about Israel and the Jewish connection to it. And the Poland trip led to every asking about “why bad things happen to good people” which as you can imagine is the hardest question to deal with. That is probably the longest answer I had to answer in the book. Second to that question is why Jewish men and women should marry Jewish. With intermarriage rates at over 50% here in America I have to deal with inter-dating couples all the time. That question was very challenging yet important to answer.
Rabbi Lawrence’s book was inspired by unaffiliated Jews, but everyone will enjoy reading this book. You will likely learn something you didn’t know before and have better answers for questions people might ask you. Right now you can win a copy of Jew Got Question signed by Rabbi Lawrence!! All you have to do is post a comment or question (maybe yours can be featured in the next book) in the comments below and enter with Rafflecopter.
Get a glimpse of the Rabbi and even Anita in some of our cooking videos.
California Avocado Salad
Challah Kugel
How to Make A Watermelon Baby Carriage
How to Cut and Plate a Melon
it is truly amazing Judi! the best decision we ever made. thank you so much for thinking of me here.
Hey Rebecca to make a very long story short: I met Rabbi Lawrence and Anita when I was “searching” while living and working in NYC. I attended his classes and became a regular at his Shabbos table. For years I actually spent the entire weekend at the Hajioff home riding with the Rabbi from the city Friday afternoon and back into the city Monday morning. Just seeing how they lived their life and getting a “taste” of what an observant lifestyle was really all about invariably lead me to want the same thing for my future (family). There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the beauty and benefits of an observant life, live and in action.
YAY MORGAN!!!!!!!!
Hey Misha. There is a lot online about the historical, archeological, theological and political connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. Here’s one article from a non Jewish US senator which has a fairly concise summary of the some of the main points. http://www.aish.com/h/iid/48891682.html?s=mpw&mobile=yes
There is always something one can learn. Would love to read the book and increase my kosher knowledge.
Hi Rabbi Lawrence,
Concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict, can you provide evidence that the land of Israel belongs to the Jews, and not the Palestinians?
Hey Zahava. I came here to the US from London, England after I received a scholarship to study in yeshiva and for my smicha ‘rabbinical ordination’. I was planning on going back and actually had a job waiting for me. Well as the expression goes, we plan and G-d laughs, I met my wife and I ended up staying for 17 years!
After writing my comment my daughter,who attends Rockland Community College and is a member of Hillel, came home and told me about a very interesting person who addressed the kids of Hillel last week. She tells me she has a gift for me and whips out your book! How funny! So people, it is very well written and very interesting. Buy it if you do not win it. So many questions answered, even though as we all know in Judaism answers always lead to more questions! Some things are just meant to be.
How awesome!
Some things can and probably must be purchased before the birth of the baby such as a car seat (you have to get the baby home from the hospital) and some clothing as well as a crib. Some people don’t overdo the other items and wait till the baby is born. As I answer in the book there are a number of ways to protect ourselves from the Ayin Harah, including prayer and not being too ostentatious with our possessions. Best Wishes and blessings.
Todah raba Rabbi, I will do that. I trust you had a restful Shabbas! May HaShem richly bless you! Shalom!
what a cool book! can’t wait to read it!
I am looking forward to reading this book as I have met Rabbi Lawrence through my daughter and think he is wonderful.
I also suggest online classes. Feel free to visit my website rabbilawrence.com where I have a number of video classes on a variety of topics. I wish you well!
Dear Rabbi, Toda Raba for your answering my question, unfortunately as I am in a wheelchair because of crippling arthritis, it is not very easy for my husband and myself to move and we moved to Spain from Scotland because of the climate. I know online is not perfect but I will take anything I can get to learn what I can. That is why I entered this book thing because I knew it would have questions in it that are bound to help me. I so want to learn all I can, I am reading the Torah as much as I can and any books by Rabbi’s I can get my hands on. Shalom!
This sounds like an interesting book that I could learn a lot from.
then you must know how very disgusted many many women feel to see that bracha in the siddur and that men and women can both say she’asani kirtzono–not she’asani yisrael—or even thank you for making me a man/woman–whatever. incidentally, i know two men who are uncomfortable with this bracha also–my bet is a lot more men as well as women find this pathetic.
so you not answering why they both cant say sheasani k’irtzono is somehow acknowledging that it is indeed a very sexist bracha?
Yes. Could still be bugs inside. Figs can be extremely buggy for example.
I have two possible answers. The Talmud states: noach lodom shelo nivra “better that mankind had not been created”. We therefore can only bless on the fact that once we were created not as good, we can’t thank for being created. Secondly that’s the only way to divide into 3 brachot because sheosani yisroel would be inclusive. We like to be as detailed as possible when we give gratitude. I hope this helps a little.
Hey Aryeh. Even vegan restaurants can pose a few problems when it comes to kashrut. Bugs are a problem for leafy greens and some fruits. Even though they may wash their greens, it is not satisfactory according to Kosher standards. Other challenges of ingredients, who is doing the cooking and who is making sure that no one inadvertently adds non kosher ingredients.
Hey Gail. My book is informative and discusses possible reasons for why people suffer in this world, but it cannot take the place of a qualified therapist. Life is the most precious gift we have and suicide is never the answer. Wishing you the strength to work through your challenges.
I’m sorry to hear about your tragic loss. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. The custom is to bury a young baby that age in an anonymous place with no marker. I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I don’t believe placing a marker next to your brother is really warranted. I will check into this again. Best Wishes
Can’t wait to start reading
I think I’m going to buy your book as a Hanukkah gift to myself!
This book is coming at the PERFECT time for me! Thank you SO much for writing it! It’s going on my wishlist.
Hey Maisie. Stories like yours have become more and more common. Many people around the world have begun to explore their Jewish roots. As a nation we have suffered many pogroms, exiles, crusades and most recently holocaust. Many Jews were cut off from their heritage as a result of this and assimilation in general.
For many years it was very difficult for many of these Jews to discover any information about their history or their heritage. Things have now changed and learning about Judaism is a click away.
From what you wrote however, I’m not sure an online engagement may be sufficient. If you really want to connect to your Jewish past, you may have to leave your area and go find a functioning community. Or you may have to visit Israel yourself! Please let me know where this journey takes you.
Great answer! Yes, of course. I was thinking that to every question (of those millions asked) there are 3 million answers, mostly valid, hopefully all for the sake of heaven. That’s what I was thinking was confusing, but on reflection, people are very complex and what is right for one in their situation, might not be right for another who is in a different situation. So.. retracting my question. Mazel tov on your book!
On the contrary. I have found that most Jews have more questions than answers, which is really a great thing. We are more impressed with a great question than a great answer! The entire yeshiva system of learning is built on asking good questions in a one on one setting. The desire to ask questions drive us forward.
We start early, encouraging our children ask four questions on Passover and hopefully for the rest of their lives.
Got to meet the good rabbi in the Hudson Valley on Pesach. May he go from strength to strength!
Since fridges don’t make foods hot and don’t make foods wet, you don’t need a separate fridge. But if you have a dishwasher, the meat plate with residue now has hot water hit it, which transfers taste into the rack or sides of the dishwasher. The concern is that when a “milk” plate goes into the same dishwasher it will transfer taste into that plate or vice versa. So you are now mixing milk and meat. Same applies with all metals.
Glass is so dense however we are not concerned that they can absorb any of the taste of the food.
According to http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html
the density of glass is about the same as porcelain.
Rabbi; the recent tragic death of my brother has led me to ask this question. I had to find the death certificate of his twin who died at birth (according to the death certificate he lived for 20 min). It led me on a quest to find the location of his burial place as I thought they should be buried next to each other; I wanted to have the baby boy moved to the plot next to where my brother is buried. The cemetery records have been lost; the caretaker has walked the perimeter of the cemetery where infants & babies were usually buried and nothing was found…after so many years markers have been heavily grown over with grass.
So my question is: can I put a grave marker next to my brother for the baby boy?
Todah Rabah
This book sounds very interesting!
I am at a point in my life where I feel so lost. I’ve been searching for answers every where I can and even any where. I would love to read his book that is in my layman’s words. I am so lost I’m at a point where I am even thinking about ending my life. I have nothing to live for except religion. And I’m lost in that too. I just want help. Maybe the Rabbi can help me thru his book.
I would love to win this book!
I would love to win this book!!
Here is my question for the contest. If someone is careful about kashrus, would it be okay to eat in a vegan restaurant? Vegans don’t go for batul b’shishim, and would go ballistic if something was found to be 1/60th non-vegan. And what about someone who is not particularly careful, would eating in a vegan establishment be better than some of those more questionable hashgachas. Thanks in advance.
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of your son. May you have no more sorrow in your life and only joy and blessings.
We don’t put animals into Jewish cemeteries. If one dies in a cemetery is one thing, but we don’t deliberately bury them or their ashes there. It does nothing for the animal, but more importantly even though a person may have a strong relationship with an animal in this world, their soul does not in the next world.
Far better is to do a mitzvah in this world for the soul of the deceased. Giving charity, learning Torah, or lighting candles before sunset on Friday for Shabbat brings the soul real and true comfort.
Best wishes and blessings. Rabbi Lawrence
Hey Abigail. Thanks for the question. I specifically out a chapter in the book on kosher for this exact reason, there’s so much confusion about it! In a nutshell, kosher is a “chok” mitzvah, meaning we don’t know exactly the reason for the mitzvah. Although the kabbalists do give some reasons among them the Ramban, as I mention in the book.
It’s the oral law that gives us all the details of what we can and cannot do when it comes to the prohibition of kosher and mixing meat and milk which is the strictest of all the kosher laws. This could be because kosher meat and milk are prevalent in our homes, so we have to be extra careful when dealing with them.
The whole separation of dishes and dishwashers (not fridges as you will not see) is because taste of meat and milk transfers when you have heat and liquid. So when a pot cooks meat, and straight after milk, then the taste transfers from one to the other. So when we use utensils for cooking or heating up milk or meat, they should only be used for meat or milk to stop the transfer of taste.
There you go, years of rabbinical study boiled down into one paragraph! I hope that helps.
Toda raba, Rabbi Lawrence. It does help, although I am confused about the transferring of taste. If one is cooking with steel and washing thoroughly, there would be no taste transfer. If one cooks with cast iron, however, there very well could be.
I am a little confused about the dishes, dishwashers and fridges. Are you saying there are no separate fridges? I ask because I have seen that in articles. And for the tastes to transfer on dishes and through dishwashers, is that not assuming an incomplete washing?
Please forgive me if my questions sound challenging in any way. They are truly not meant to be. This is something I have been looking at for quite awhile and I always end up more confused with all the different thoughts. LOL
It sounds like you are saying no separate fridges…but yes separate dishes and dishwashers. No separate stoves?
looks like a very interesting book – i’d love to read it
Thank you, I love learning Jewish food history
knycks1(at)aol(dot)com
I do not see my comment, so I am rewriting it. Sorry if this comes up as a duplicate.
Torah says not to boil a kid in its mother’s milk. So, how did we get to not mixing meat and dairy and why do some even go so far as separate dishes, separate refrigerators and separate stoves?
Toda raba in advance.
Your book looks very interesting. 🙂
Interesting how everyone asks about shidduchim and shalom bayis. Makes sense 🙂
This looks so interesting! Answers are always good, even when the question isn’t known.
I always want the answers, even to unasked questions. Hope your move to Israel is as awesome as it seems!
I have asked many learned people without receiving a satisfactory response. why do orthodox people pray every morning in the negative…thank you for not making me a non jew, slave, woman. Why not in the positive..thank you for making me a free jewish man or woman?
Why do Jews always have more answers than questions? It gets confusing and ends up divisive.
Since it seems the Rabbi largely deals with unaffiliated Jews and has a keen interest in encouraging baal teshuvas, I’m interested to read in the book if he shares his own story i.e. was he born into an observant family or his journey to become observant.
Awesome!! Would love to win this.
Looking forward to reading this book and learning more.
Rabbi, I have a question. I was raised in a Christian home but have discovered two years ago that my grandparents were Jewish. I am very happy about this because I always felt that I was being drawn towards Israel all my life,I never felt comfortable with myself and felt something was wrong with me because I wanted to be a Jew all my life. I even told my mother and she said I was being silly. I am 71 years old and I am following the Torah and YAH’s commandments as much as I can but I have no one to guide me. There is no Rabbi or other Jews where I live in Spain, what can I do to learn more and get the fellowship that I need? Sorry to be so long. Shalom!